Medicinal Uses: The Tlingit used an infusion of the bog laurel to treat skin ailments. The Kwakwakawaku boiled the leaves to make an extract that was drunk to treat spitting blood or used to wash open sores which would not heal. Name Info: This plant is called bog laurel because its leaves resemble bay/laurel leaves. The Latin name Kalmia is named for Pete Kalm, and 18th century student of Linnaeus. The Latin name microphylla directly means small-leaved.